Sullivan followed this with her second studio album, Love Me Back, in 2010, which was received favorably by critics. After taking a three-year break, Sullivan signed with RCA Records and released her first studio album under the label, Reality Show (2015). In 2021, she released her critically acclaimed first EP, Heaux Tales which has the single "Pick Up Your Feelings".
Sullivan has received two Grammy Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and two BET Awards over the course of her career. In 2022, Time placed her on their list of the 100 Most Influential People.
Selfish
Jazmine Sullivan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gotta be a pill you rollin' on
To think so highly of your bullshit
To think that everybody around you is stupid
You must be out your rabbit-ass mind
You ain't all that fine and you ain't always right
Some might fall for the lies
But not I
See, you want me to change
You want me to risk everything
But don't want to make no sacrifices
You don't want to make no sacrifices, no
See, you want me to change
You want me to take all of the blame
But don't want to make no sacrifices
You don't want to make no sacrifices, no
Selfish love
Baby, you're selfish, love
You're way too selfish, love
You're just too selfish, love, yeah
I swear you don't take no accountability
When you play on my insecurities
Makin' excuse when you want to leave
And when you're good and ready, you come back to me
You must've gone and bumped your head
See, you gon' make me get another man instead
To remind you of who I am
And never forget
'Cause you want me to change
Want me to risk everything
But don't want to make no sacrifices
Don't want to make no sacrifices, no
See, you want me to change
Want me to take all of the blame
But don't want to make no sacrifices
You don't want to make no sacrifices, no
Selfish love
Baby, you're selfish, love
You're way too selfish, love
You're way too selfish for my love, ooh
Baby, I'm done giving up all my love
Lock it up to keep it from
Anyone whose heart is numb
And I'ma be selfish for once, ayy
You want me to change
Want me to risk everything
But don't want to make no sacrifices
Don't want to make no sacrifices, no
You want me to change
Want me to take all of the blame
But don't want to make no sacrifices
You don't want to make no sacrifices, no
Selfish love
You're just too selfish, love
You're just too selfish, love
You're just too selfish for all my love, yeah
The opening lines of Jazmine Sullivan's song "Selfish" express a sense of frustration and anger towards someone who is overly confident and convinced of their own superiority. The singer of the song sees through this person's manipulations and refuses to be taken in by their lies. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "selfish love," suggesting that the person she is singing about is driven purely by their own desires and lacks the capacity for genuine love.
The second verse of the song is directed more specifically at the person's behavior towards the singer. They want her to change and take all the blame in their relationship, without being willing to make any sacrifices themselves. At this point, she reaches a breaking point and decides to take control of the situation by being selfish for once and protecting her own heart.
Overall, the song can be seen as a statement against the way that selfishness and manipulation can poison relationships. It is a call to prioritize honesty and mutual respect over personal gain.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel like fuck you and the horse you rode in on
At times, I am extremely fed up with you and everything you stand for.
Gotta be a pill you rollin' on
You must be taking some sort of substance to actually believe the lies that you believe.
To think so highly of your bullshit
You arrogantly believe in your own nonsense.
To think that everybody around you is stupid
You believe that you are smarter than everyone else.
You must be out your rabbit-ass mind
You're completely out of your mind.
You ain't all that fine and you ain't always right
You are often wrong and you're not as great as you think you are.
Some might fall for the lies
There are people who are gullible enough to believe your lies.
But not I
But I am not one of those people.
See, you want me to change
You want me to be someone that I'm not.
You want me to risk everything
You expect me to take serious risks for you.
But don't want to make no sacrifices
You refuse to make any sacrifices for me.
You don't want to make no sacrifices, no
You are totally unwilling to compromise.
I swear you don't take no accountability
You never take responsibility for your actions.
When you play on my insecurities
You take advantage of my weaknesses.
Makin' excuse when you want to leave
You continuously come up with excuses when you want to end our relationship.
And when you're good and ready, you come back to me
You come back to me when it's convenient for you.
You must've gone and bumped your head
You must be crazy.
See, you gon' make me get another man instead
Your actions are going to drive me to find someone else.
To remind you of who I am
So you'll never forget who I really am.
And never forget
And you will never forget that.
'Cause you want me to change
You expect me to be different than who I really am.
Want me to risk everything
You expect me to take serious risks for you.
But don't want to make no sacrifices
You refuse to make any sacrifices for me.
Don't want to make no sacrifices, no
You are totally unwilling to compromise.
Baby, I'm done giving up all my love
I've had enough of sacrificing my love for you.
Lock it up to keep it from anyone whose heart is numb
I am going to keep it to myself, so no one with a cold heart can have it.
And I'ma be selfish for once, ayy
For once, I am going to be selfish.
You're just too selfish, love
Your love is just too selfish.
You're way too selfish, love
You're selfish in every possible way.
You're just too selfish for all my love, yeah
Your selfishness is the reason why you don't deserve my love.
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews, Jazmine Sullivan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
T.D.F.W
she makes masterpieces on top of masterpieces.
Victoria Martin
Fr
Reggie Sharpe
She Sure Doesโ๐๐ฟโ
T.D.F.W
@karyn shaw ikr, she's a vibe
karyn shaw
Like is this beautiful black queen in my head knowing what Iโm feeling โค๏ธ๐ค๐
checkMyChedda !
(Mona Lisa)
Shaun Clark
Lord, protect this magnificent being called Jazmine Sullivan, who just happens to be one of the greatest singers walking this earth! It had to be said!!!
Mary Wilson
@Lewis Ryan yes I would like to know too
We know the ones who have definitely they show signs of it . But have seen it from her . I pray that she hasn't time is winding down for the devil and his followers anyway. I can't judge any of these artist we dont live with them fo. Y really know there love unless they share it or it's exposed . But we know for sure little Nas x has sold his for sure smh. It a dangerous game they playing . If she has I. Praying for her . But how you know she has.
Mary Wilson
I concur . Yes very gifted it started when she was child go check her out on the Apollo that when I first fell in love with her voice I knew she was going to be a beast when she got older and nobody can you j her singing there are great singer out there as well I can name them on one hand but my favorite are Jazmine ,brandy Her, shele'a and Kelly price ,Tori Kelly .Alex Isley. India Arie. Sha Sha Jones JoJo . Keke Wyatt Fantasia , jade Novah Tamar Braxton, Dawn Richard these are all my favorites females in the industry right now ...
carmalizedqt
You hear me!!! This song is hardt!!! I canโt get enough!!!!